Local Conservative activists Cllr Melanie Hampton, Rhodri Morgan and Charles Pitt today met with Claire Mann, a director at Transport for London at TfL’s head office to present a petition from over 800 Battersea residents. They have been leading a campaign to restore the 170 bus route to Battersea Church Road and Lombard Road after it was withdrawn before Christmas without notice. According to TfL, buses forthe route were too high to pass under a rail bridge on Lombard Road, leaving only the eastbound service in operation.
Following pressure from local residents organised by Battersea’s Conservative candidates in this May’s local elections, Gareth Powell, Director of Strategy and Service Development at TfL, has promised to restore the 170 bus route westbound as early as next week. Mr Powell took a personal interest in the issue with the 170 bus following an intervention from Cllr Melanie Hampton. Along with Rhodri Morgan and Charles Pitt, Cllr Hampton has been gathering signatures for their petition since Monday night, after it became clear that nothing was being done to restore the westbound service.
Speaking outside TfL’s head office this morning Cllr Melanie Hampton, who represents St Mary’s Park ward, through which the 170 should be running, said:
“I am very pleased that the voices of nearly a thousand local people have been heard this morning and that the mighty TfL has listened! I also want to thank TfL for having had the courtesy to apologise for cancelling the service with no notice, causing confusion and inconvenience to local people in north Battersea. I will be holding TfL to their promise to have 170 buses running westbound on the right route from next week.”
St Mary’s Park Conservative team started taking action early this year once it had become clear that the Labour GLA member Leonie Cooper was unable to resolve the issue.
Speaking this morning following their meeting with TfL, Rhodri Morgan, who is a candidate for St Mary’s Park in this May’s local elections, said:
“This is community activism at its best – local politicians and local residents getting results by making their case clearly and simply. We launched our e-petition this week and have received hundreds of signatures every day.”
Charles Pitt, who is also standing for St Mary’s Park ward this May, said:
“Great teamwork can deliver results – I have been really pleased how welcome this campaign has been on the doorstep. Some people reasonably assumed that the suspension was because of roadworks. Once they heard about the new buses and the height restriction they were worried their service was gone. We have brought it back.”
TfL will today be announcing its plans to restore buses westbound on the 170 bus route, ending weeks of uncertainty for local people.
Cllr Hampton, who has led the campaign, thanked TfL’s Gareth Powell for taking stepping in.
“While TfL should never had caused this mess in the first place, I am grateful that when put our case to him he took on board what we had to say and is now putting this right. I am just glad that we have been able to sort this for those who depend on this service.”